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"Captain Liu, come and get some food."
Liu Tutu didn't say anything, but nodded slightly. He didn't know why he had seen a hint of sympathy in Wang Dahai's eyes since last night, and he felt inexplicably sympathized.
Wang Dahai is a straightforward person who cannot keep secrets. Although he was warned not to talk about what happened yesterday, he couldn't help but sympathize with Liu Tutu. He wanted to comfort the other person when he saw him.
Knowing that he couldn't say it, but still wanting to comfort the other person, Wang Dahai felt very embarrassed.
When I was serving the food, my hands were shaking and I served a little too much.
Liu Tutu is the battalion commander, and most soldiers are not as stupid as Wang Dahai. Even if they see that there is more rice in his ceramic jar, they will not ask directly.
But Liu Tutu couldn't do that. As the battalion commander, he had to lead by example. When he found out, he looked at the other person with displeasure and said, "Wang Dahai, if you can't do it, ask someone else to serve you."
The army has a food standard. The standard in their regiment is basically that one person's daily food expenses should be controlled within 10 cents. For three meals a day, green vegetables are the most common dishes. After autumn, everyone's dishes will become vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, potatoes, etc. If you are lucky enough to hunt prey in the back mountain, everyone will be so happy that day that they will run to the kitchen to wait for more dishes.
The 8147th Regiment's kitchen squad had some experienced veterans. They had built a vegetable garden and a pigsty in the open space behind the kitchen to supplement the regiment's food supply. There were two piglets in the pigsty, and they held a special place in the regiment. They were well-fed and well-served by the soldiers. Everyone looked forward to slaughtering the pigs during festivals and New Year's holidays and enjoying a delicious meal of braised pork.
The staple food in the regiment is usually rice and steamed buns. The rice is 3 taels per meal, and each person has two to three steamed buns. The steamed buns are basically steamed with white flour and corn flour. They are yellow and chewy. Except for a few soldiers from the south, all the soldiers in the army like to eat steamed buns, which can satisfy their hunger.
The regiment is made up of men who do physical work and eat a lot. This standard only allows them to eat half full. If Liu Tutu kills more people, some people will eat less, which is not allowed by the army.
"No, no. My hands are bald." Wang Dahai shamelessly scooped some more from the ceramic jar and handed it to Liu Tutu. "Captain Liu, here. It's fresh out of the pot. Be careful when eating it. Eat it slowly and don't rush."
Liu Tutu glanced at him and didn't want to pay any attention to him.
What's the point of arguing with an idiot?
Liu Tutu pursed his lips, took the ceramic pot and walked out quickly. A few days ago, he heard Xiaofang say that their family was almost poor and could not even afford to eat. Today's dishes were not bad, and he wanted to save some for Xiaofang.
"Brother Liu, this way!"
When Liu Tutu went out, he saw Sang Xiaofang squatting not far away. He ran over quickly and stuffed the ceramic jar in his hand and a big steamed bun in his arms into her hands with an embarrassed look.
Sang Xiaofang was slightly stunned. After taking it, she asked softly, "Is it for me? Have you eaten it?"
"I've eaten." Liu Tutu looked at the other person's palm-sized face and said embarrassedly: "This...this is what I didn't finish. Please don't be disgusted."
He pushed her again and said, "Xiaofang, eat it while it's hot. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
"Every household is starving these days, so why would anyone be so dissatisfied with food?" Sang Xiaofang's eyes were filled with emotion. She lowered her head and continued coyly, "I, I can't eat. Food is so expensive these days. A few days ago, someone in our village sold their eldest daughter for five pounds of cornmeal. We're not related, so I can't eat your food."
"I...I..." Liu Tutu said for a long time before suddenly becoming serious. He saluted Sang Xiaofang with a serious expression and said loudly: "Liu Tutu, 22 years old, from Shigou Village, Jinghuang County, Y City, G Province, currently the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 8147th Regiment, I...I..."
"Comrade Sang Xiaofang, I like you!" Liu Tutu shouted at the top of his lungs, "Can we date with the goal of getting married? I promise to treat you well for the rest of your life. I'll give you whatever you want. I'll try to make sure you have fried dough sticks, shredded pork noodles, and sesame oil noodles every day."
This is a realistic guarantee, but also difficult to achieve.
Nowadays, even poor families are reluctant to use oil when cooking, let alone frying fried dough sticks and pancakes. These foods, which are essential for improving quality of life, are neither affordable nor dared by most people. As for shredded pork noodles and sesame oil noodles, they were once the sick-only meals in the army. Only the most seriously ill could be served the special sesame oil noodles from the kitchen.
These things are the best things in Liu Tutu's memory. He is like all men who have just fallen in love. He wants to give all the good things to his beloved girl just to get a happy smile from his beloved.
"Yeah." Sang Xiaofang pursed her lips and nodded heavily.
"Then you will be my partner from now on." Liu Tutu was so excited that he couldn't control himself. His hands and feet were uncontrollable, wanting to get closer to and hug the shy girl.
Thinking that this was the entrance to the military base and they were not married yet, he suppressed a cough.
"Our troops will be going back to your village for a political review in the next few days. We may ask the people in your village about the specific situation of your family. Go home and tell your parents so that they don't be afraid. Just tell them whatever you want to say when the time comes." The common people respect and admire the soldiers, but are also afraid of their interrogation. Liu Tutu still felt that he should tell Sang Xiaofang about the matter.
"Okay." Sang Xiaofang gave Liu Tutu a very happy smile. She looked at Liu Tutu with bright eyes, giving people the illusion that her eyes could no longer hold anything else.
Seeing her like this, Liu Tutu secretly swallowed his saliva, his eyes wandering around, not daring to look at her, his face red all the way to his ears, "You...you should eat it quickly while it's hot."
The noise from their side was so loud that all the soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the army looked over here. They had been watching from the beginning to the end, and now both of them looked shy. It was estimated that they were together.
Finally, someone in the group found their partner, and they were eager to go over and watch and cheer to liven up the atmosphere, but unfortunately they were still on duty.
However, as witnesses, they were still very happy for the two young lovers.
After Liu Tutu came out with his meal, Xiao Li had been following him, watching Liu Tutu's nervousness, anticipation, shyness, happiness, and now a look of happiness. He never knew that a person's face could have so many expressions at the same time, and these expressions were all for a woman. Xiao Li couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned away.
The 8147th Regiment has a happy event today.
Great news!
Liu Tutu, the battalion commander of the first battalion, and Sang Xiaofang from Sangjia Village are dating. They have already submitted their marriage report and are just waiting for their superiors to verify the situation and approve it. The news soon spread throughout the regiment, causing great joy in the regiment.
Everyone who saw Liu Tutu congratulated him with a smile. Some single young men with quick minds said to him directly, "Captain, when will you ask your sister-in-law to introduce us to a girl?"
Liu Tutu was not angry either, and nodded in agreement: "Wait, I'll ask her."
As happy as everyone else was, Xiao Li and the others were also distressed. Although Liu Tutu had submitted his report, Liu Shijun suppressed it and said, "Everything must wait until the results of the investigation are known. We can't really let a young cadre's future be ruined. Go to Sangjia Village tomorrow."
It is said that the higher the official position, the more suspicious one becomes.
Registering marriage to a woman who is suspected to be a spy, even if the soldier is excellent and capable, as long as something happens, it will affect his future.
This is not a joke, it's the truth!
Xiao Li and others knew all this, and Liu Tutu's marriage report was just a prelude for them to openly investigate the other party.
The next morning, the battalion political commissar Qiangzi and the company instructor Dashan received a notice to go to Sangjia Village not far away.
Sangjia Village and Longgang Village are not far from each other, only about 4 miles away. You can reach Sangjia Village by climbing a big slope from the road.
Farmers have no time to rest all year round. At this time, a farmer who was working in the fields saw soldiers coming towards their village from afar. He stopped what he was doing, straightened up, and greeted them with a smile: "Comrades of the People's Liberation Army, have you eaten?"
As political commissars, both were very kind and eloquent. Dashan said, "Fellow countryman, you're out working so early. Have you eaten yet?"
"Hey, what are you eating? We'll eat at home later." Farmers get up early all year round. It's around seven in the morning now, and it's still a little cold in March, but the villagers have been working in the fields for more than an hour.
"What brings you two to our village?" The soldiers in the regiment usually did not go down the mountain to interact with the masses except for purchasing. They looked at Dashan and the other man with curiosity.
Qiangzi asked, "Fellow villagers, is there a girl named Sang Xiaofang in your village?"
"Sang Xiaofang? What's wrong? What happened to Xiaofang?" Someone from a field near the road ran over and said, "What happened to our Xiaofang?"
Why did the soldiers come to my house?
"Comrades of the People's Liberation Army, our Xiaofang is a good child. We have watched her grow up since she was young. That kid is as timid as a rabbit. What do you want with him?" The man who spoke was Sang Xiaofang's uncle. There was only such a little girl in Sang Xiaofang's family. As the only girl, Sang Xiaofang was treated like a princess at home and was spoiled by the whole family.
In this state, Sang Xiaofang was raised to be a little naive and full of sympathy. Most importantly, she was raised to be a little timid and liked to shout and yell when something happened.
Qiangzi still remembered the instructions given by the regimental commander before he left. He took out a small notebook and wrote down everything the other party said word for word. He then said comfortingly, "Fellow villager, please don't misunderstand me. The truth is, Comrade Sang Xiaofang from your village is dating an officer and soldier in our army. Our army has regulations that require reporting and investigation when dating. So after we got the news, we came to Sangjia Village to learn about Comrade Sang Xiaofang's situation."
"Oh my, this is incredible!" The others standing on the ground with their ears perked up began to discuss: "Sang Daji, your precious child has found a golden rice bowl for the rest of his life..."
Being a soldier is a golden rice bowl in the eyes of the common people. If there were not a military corps nearby, they would never be able to meet such people even with a lantern. Now, who doesn't want to send their children to the army? Unfortunately, there is no way.
If girls can find a partner who is a soldier, in their minds he will be their future wife. What a scene!
Sang Daji, after hearing this, bared his large yellow teeth, his face wrinkled with a smile. "Comrades from the People's Liberation Army, feel free to ask whatever you want to know. I'm Sang Xiaofang's uncle. Xiaofang grew up under my watch. I know everything."
So, the two of them went directly to the village entrance and asked about everything about Sang Xiaofang from childhood to adulthood. Even trivial things like how old she was when she was weaned and whether she wet the bed at the age of 5 were all told by the old women in the fields.
"Hey, why hasn't Xiaofang been as diligent as before recently? She's been running to the back mountain every day. It turns out she's fallen in love with the soldier over there. If my child had this ability, she wouldn't have to work all day!"
"The one in your family looks nothing like Ren Xiaofang. Ren Xiaofang has been spoiled by her family since she was little. Not only does she have to do less work, but she's also pretty. But your black horse, Spoon, is still dreaming of this. Wake up!"
"Now that you mention it, I've noticed that Xiaofang seems to have gotten prettier recently. I remember she used to be darker, slower, and more timid. But now that she's found a PLA partner, she's different. Look how much more confident she is now, and even her way of speaking is different from before."
There are always people who can't stand others living better than themselves and make sarcastic remarks behind their backs. Qiangzi and Dashan remembered the expressions of these people calmly and wrote down their words in a small notebook.
When they returned to the regiment, they handed the notebook directly to Liu Shijun. The two answered the regiment leader's questions in the regiment leader's office in confusion and left the office in a daze.
After going out, the two looked at each other: "Is the marriage certificate review so complicated?" Even they were not spared!
Liu Shijun held the notebook in silence, combined the two people's words, and said: "Sometimes what those who pull the leg say is not necessarily false, and what those who always say good things may not always be true."
"I remember Liu Tutu once told me that Sang Xiaofang first encountered them in the back mountain. At that time, Sang Xiaofang was afraid of him and even screamed out on the spot." Xiao Li felt that this was very consistent with her timid and noisy personality. "Now, maybe it's because they have been together for a long time. Her eyes are full of admiration, not a trace of fear. And she comes to the back mountain every day..."
A timid girl goes to Sangjia Village alone from the back mountain every afternoon, which is somewhat inconsistent with her timid character.
Moreover, fellow villagers also said that Sang Xiaofang has no sisters, her personality has changed recently, and she doesn’t like to do work. All these reasons indicate that she is probably not the real Sang Xiaofang!
"Captain, I want to tell Liu Tutu about this matter and let him make the decision," Xiao Li said.
"Have you thought it through? A man and a woman in love shouldn't be treated with common sense. What if Captain Liu doesn't believe it and tells her, what if he runs away with her? Have you thought through the consequences of this matter? Can you bear this responsibility?"
"Captain, Liu Tutu and I met on the battlefield. He saw his comrades sacrificed beside him. How could someone who managed to walk out of the battlefield alive be so obsessed with love?" Xiao Li said with a firm look in his eyes, "Captain, I believe him! Please believe him too..."
"Okay, I'll trust him for now. If he doesn't do what you say, he'll be executed on the spot!"
Afterwards, Liu Tutu was called to Xiao Li's office and his marriage report was returned to him.
Liu Tutu said with surprise, "It's been approved so quickly, thank you Xiaotuan!"
After looking through it, he found that it had not been signed or stamped by a leader. He asked in confusion, "Xiao Tuan, what does this mean? Is there something wrong with Comrade Sang Xiaofang's family members?"
Xiao Li shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with Sang Xiaofang's family. Three generations of them have lived in poverty in Sangjia Village. The problem is Sang Xiaofang. A few days ago, Wang Dahai..."
Xiao Li told him what happened and took him to see the rotting female corpse: "You should be more familiar with Sang Xiaofang than we are. Take a look for yourself."
The female corpse was already emitting a foul smell and was rotting faster and faster, but Liu Tutu seemed unaffected as he walked over, pulled away the sheet covering her head, and then took a few steps back.
They were so similar that he couldn't make excuses for the other person.
"I'm telling you this because the organization has great trust in you. We hope you can cooperate and not let us down."
Liu Tutu finally understood why Wang Dahai looked at him that way. He was unable to control his emotions. His breathing became heavy, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Xiao Tuan, I know what to do."
The next day, at the same location, Liu Tutu looked at the woman with a picturesque smile and said, "Yesterday, our battalion's political commissar and his team went to your village to conduct an investigation. When they came back, the regimental commander said there was no problem and approved the report. We now have the organization's approval."
"Really?" Sang Xiaofang looked at him with sparkling eyes, and happily took Liu Tutu's hand. Feeling something was wrong, she blushed and stuck out her tongue at Liu Tutu and whispered, "I'm sorry, I... I'm so happy..."
"We're now in a relationship approved by the organization," Liu Tutu said with a forced smile. "Our regimental commander said he wants to invite you to dinner with the troops today to celebrate. Would you...would you like to meet them?"
Sang Xiaofang lowered her head, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and she nodded shyly.
Of course I am willing. How could I not be willing?
Sang Xiaofang didn't think much about it and was taken directly to the team leader's office by Liu Tutu, with the reason being that our leader wanted to talk to you.
They wanted to have a good chat, so when Sang Xiaofang entered the office, there was a room full of leading cadres waiting for her, and the office was quickly surrounded by a group of soldiers with guns.
When Sang Xiaofang saw the group of people in front of her, her face was full of fear. She hid behind Liu Tutu and trembled.
It was obvious that she was pretending.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Li smiled and said, "Captain Liu, there's a basin of water at the door. It's prepared for you."
Liu Tutu understood, turned around, picked up the water and poured it on Sang Xiaofang.
"Liu Tutu, what are you doing! Do you still want to be with me? You actually teamed up with outsiders to bully me!" Sang Xiaofang, of course, refused to agree. She yelled, "You are the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and this is how you treat us ordinary people? I'm going to report you!"
Xiao Li smiled.
However, this smile only slightly curved the corners of his mouth. His eyes were indeed cold, icy and without any warmth. He looked at Sang Xiaofang as if he was looking at a dead person: "What's wrong with me bullying you?"
You bullied our people, and now you don't want others to bully you back!
Water was poured on Sang Xiaofang's exposed skin, and a female soldier was asked to rub it vigorously. Soon a different color appeared.
Sang Xiaofang knew that she was exposed, and she watched Xiao Li and others look at her with eyes that became even colder. Xiao Li's hand was even rubbing the pistol at his waist.
How could she be exposed? Sang Xiaofang looked at Liu Tutu helplessly, trying to ask for help.
Unfortunately, Liu Tutu looked serious and didn't even look at him.
"Tell me, who are you, and what's your purpose?" Xiao Li slammed his gun on the desk, turned to look at Dong Shiyi and said, "I remember one day it was stipulated that if a spy doesn't cooperate with our work, we have the right to shoot him directly, right?"
Dong Shiyi nodded in agreement. "We still have to write a report after the killing. We have to describe the whole incident, the consequences, and other details clearly. This is quite troublesome."
They also realized that Sang Xiaofang was probably just a newbie and was not particularly cautious in doing things. However, it was this unpretentious appearance that won the heart of the battalion commander of the regiment.
People who have experienced the Korean War never look down on women and children, because too many comrades died at the hands of seemingly weak and pitiful children and women, and they didn't even know why they died.
If she had not been discovered this time, one can imagine what the consequences would be after she and Liu Tutu got married and moved into the army!
This is something no one wants to think about.
Finally, Sang Xiaofang confessed. She was a Chinese but grew up in a wealthy family. She was sent to study in Country M when she was young. After seeing the foreign world, she wanted to stay there. However, the Chinese were discriminated against there, and it was very difficult for her to live there smoothly. When she was running around asking for help to stay in Country M, someone found her and hoped that she would return to China as an undercover agent. After the matter was done, she would be given the rights and life of a Country M citizen.
'Sang Xiaofang' is a girl who worships foreign things and fawns on foreigners. She enjoys everything in Country M and likes a good life. She has no good feelings towards China, which is in a state of poverty. So she secretly returned to China with the help of the military of Country M. After a simple training in some killing skills, she was sent to Longgang Village with the goal of infiltrating the 8147th Regiment.
Just when she was worrying about how to infiltrate the 8147th Regiment, she met Sang Xiaofang in the back mountain. She was frightened by Liu Tutu and crying uncontrollably. She pretended to be pitiful and begged for sympathy, and successfully deceived Sang Xiaofang, who was simply full of sympathy.
She kept Sang Xiaofang isolated, learned her every move, every frown and smile, and suggested that she apologize to Liu Tutu. She tried to contact people in the group through Sang Xiaofang, but unfortunately Sang Xiaofang was a fool. Finally, she couldn't bear it anymore and tricked her to Montenegro and killed her.
'Sang Xiaofang' had been spoiled since childhood and didn't have much strength, so she didn't dispose of the body properly. However, she had heard rumors about Montenegro and thought that the Chinese were stupid and ridiculous, so she didn't take it seriously. Who would have thought that the mission that was going very smoothly would suddenly be discovered.
"Since you are going to marry our regiment's battalion commander, how will you go abroad in the future?" Xiao Li was a little confused about the girl's train of thought.
"Okay, lock her up and hand her over to the higher authorities for handling." Liu Shijun waved his hand, and the matter ended like this.
"Yes!" Liu Tutu walked in front. With a pale and determined face, he walked quickly to Sang Xiaofang and pushed her out.
A group of people outside the house looked at him, seeming to want to say something but stopping themselves.
Dong Shiyi went out and said directly: "The commander of the first battalion, Liu Tutu, found Sang Xiaofang's behavior suspicious and took the risk to capture her."
Liu Tutu's marriage report had already been torn up right under Xiao Li's nose. Now, except for Wang Dahai and a group of leaders above the deputy regimental level, other soldiers did not know the specific situation and believed that this matter was true.
"Wow, I didn't expect that the battalion commander is not only capable but also has such good acting skills. I believe it!"
Their admiration for Liu Tutu continued to grow, and they all expressed their desire to learn from the battalion commander.
Sang Xiaofang's body was secretly sent back to Sangjia Village. Dong Shiyi, as the regiment political commissar, explained the importance of this to the Sang family. Even though the Sang family was sad, they finally announced to the public that Sang Xiaofang was accidentally killed by a wild boar when she went to the back mountain.
The Sang family, who had been beaming with joy a few days ago, suddenly fell from heaven to hell. Fearing that their entire family would be arrested as spies, the entire family became visibly low-key.
As for Sang Xiaofang's family, the organization directly sent people to arrest them all. No one can guarantee whether they were also involved in this incident. The whole family suffered misfortune because of her.
I heard that after Sang Xiaofang heard the news, she collapsed and went crazy.
When Xiao Li told Liu Tutu the news, he asked, "Do you regret it?"
"I will only move forward, there is no turning back. This is my choice, my life. I have no regrets. I still have my parents and family, and I cannot do anything that would let them and my country down. I am still full of hope for the future. All I have to do is work hard, live a wonderful life, and live a better life." He said without any expression on his face, "It's a pity that I can't introduce any partners to my brothers..."
Xiao Li smiled and said, "I'll ask your sister-in-law to introduce you to someone else someday. I guarantee she'll be beautiful and virtuous."
When facing a crossroads in life, everyone will make different choices, but the choice made by Liu Tutu made Xiao Li admire him and feel a little distressed at the same time!
He deserves better...
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